Tjeerdsma nominated for College Football Hall of Fame

Former Northwest Missouri State University head football coach and current Director of Athletics Mel Tjeerdsma has been nomintated for the 2017 College Football Hall of Fame. The National Football Foundation (NFF) and the College Football Hall of Fame released the 2017 ballot which includes 75 players and six coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 95 players and 29 coaches from the divisional ranks.

Also included is Tony Miles, a two-time First Team All-American, who led Bearcats to back-to-back Division II National Championships (1998-99) and four-consecutive MIAA titles. He set conference and school records for career receiving yards (3,890), receptions (235) and TDs (37).

Tjeerdsma, who coached at Austin College (Texas) from 1984-93 and at Northwest from 1994-2010, led the Bearcats to seven Division II national championship games, winning in 1998, 1999, 2009. He was a four-time AFCA Coach of the Year who boasts most wins (183) in Northwest history. He led teams to 15 MIAA conference titles and 15 playoff appearances.